The True Story of Mary extract   children's fiction  
Issue Details: First known date: 2012... 2012 The True Story of Mary
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

There are only a few rules in life, and even fewer at Mary's school. One is to do exactly what you're told, and the other is to never stand on your head. Mary doesn't like those rules. An empowering tale of a girl who doesn't want to be restrained. Probably based on a true story. (Plot information sourced from Goodreads)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Things a Map Won't Show You : Stories from Australia and Beyond Susan La Marca (editor), Pam Macintyre (editor), Camberwell : Penguin , 2012 Z1834405 2012 anthology short story poetry prose crime

    'An unforgettable collection of short fiction, poetry and comic art from Australia and beyond . . .

    'A boy who tries to fly, a cricket game in a refugee centre, a government guide to kissing, the perils of hunting goannas, an arranged marriage, an awkward blind date, a girl who stands on her head, an imprisoned king and a cursed Maori stone . . .

    'Sometimes funny, sometimes dramatic, always compelling, this collection featuring both established writers and emerging talent will broaden your horizons and excite your imagination.'

    Source: Publisher's blurb.

         Camberwell : Penguin , 2012     pg. 85-94
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Related Works

y separately published work icon The True Story of Mary Who Wanted to Stand on Her Head Jane Godwin , Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2005 Z1229435 2005 single work children's fiction children's

'This thought-provoking story is about a girl who is a little unusual. Mary has the urge to stand on her head. Her parents try everything to get her to live a normal life standing up. They send her to a doctor who tries to get her to stand upright by placing her feet in a locked box and tying helium balloons to her hands. The doctor suggests to the parents that they take her out to the desert and leave her there until she learns to stay on her feet. After a while her parents go out to get her and bring her back to attend school. Because she doesn’t obey the rule of ‘never stand on your head’ she is expelled. Luckily Hugh the camel is waiting outside and he takes her back to the desert where she makes new friends, a large lizard Mary called Mister and a charming marsupial mouse named Edwina-Marie. Mary’s life feels complete with her new soul mates.' (Publication summary)
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Last amended 5 Sep 2019 10:40:59
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